Grgich Hills Estate celebrates 40th Anniversary with an Open House at the Winery on July 29, 2017

Join co-founders Mike Grgich and Austin Hills and their families for a progressive tasting of current release and library wines paired with small bites.

Rutherford, California, June 12, 2017. Grgich Hills Estate celebrates its 40 years as a historic wine estate with an Open House at the winery on July 29, 2017 from 11am to 3pm. The winery also debuts expanded tasting areas at its neighboring Ranch House with lawn and patio seating surrounded by vineyards, including a new mobile pizza oven to enhance the visitor and club member experience.

Wine and food lovers are invited to join the Grgich and Hills families for a self-guided walking tour of the winery, including the cellar and production areas not usually open to the public. Visitors will stop at stations that feature a mix of current release and library wines, all perfectly paired with small bites from SMOKE Open Fire Cooking. Wines will include the limited production 40th Anniversary Chardonnay crafted to celebrate this remarkable milestone.

Visitors can also enjoy bottle service and yard games on the Ranch House lawn.

In addition, on September 6, 2017, Violet Grgich will preside over a special 40th anniversary celebration dinner at the famed James Beard House in New York City. The winery is also hosting 40th anniversary dinners around the country with restaurant partners. For a complete list of activities, please check Events at www.grgich.com.

Vintners Hall of Fame inductee Miljenko “Mike” Grgich first earned world-wide recognition when the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that he crafted won the 1976 Paris Tasting, beating the best of France and drawing international attention to the Napa Valley. Mike then partnered with Austin Hills and his sister, Mary Lee Strebl, who had just sold their interests in the Hills Bros. Coffee company. They joined together in the pursuit of creating the best wine in the world and chose Independence Day, July 4, 1977 to launch their family-owned-and-operated winery.

Forty years later, Grgich Hills Estate remains deeply rooted in family and focused on crafting world-class wines. Today, the day-to-day operations are managed by Mike Grgich’s daughter, Violet Grgich and the vineyards and winemaking are overseen by Mike’s nephew, Ivo Jeramaz.

Committed to natural winegrowing and sustainability, Grgich Hills Estate’s five estate vineyards in the Napa Valley are certified organic and all of its wines are estate grown. Relying on wild yeast fermentation and minimal intervention, the winemaking team draws on Mike’s passion and art to handcraft food-friendly, balanced and elegant wines. The winery is open daily 9:30am-4:30pm and closed on major holidays. For more information, visit www.grgich.com.